Assault weapon, high-capacity clip registrations due Tuesday

Sunday

Dec 29, 2013 at 5:39 PMDec 29, 2013 at 5:39 PM

By Adam Bensonabenson@norwichbulletin.com (860) 908-7004

The head of a 10,000-member state gun rights group worries many firearms owners will find themselves outside of the law on Wednesday, when two key provisions of Connecticut's sweeping firearms reform package kick in.

"A lot of people buy guns, collect them and throw them in their safe and don't pay attention to the law. They own something that one day is legal and the next day is illegal," said Scott Wilson Sr., president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League. "They're going to be, by constructive possession of these firearms, criminalized or possibly prosecuted as a felon."

By the close of business Tuesday, owners of guns classified as assault weapons or people in possession of magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds — known as large-capacity magazines — must be registered through the state police along with proof that they were purchased before April 4. That's when Senate Bill 1160, which bans the sale of the items while allowing those in existence to be "grandfathered" in, was signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.

But local police chiefs say they aren't planning to conduct checkpoints or other enforcement tactics to specifically target people who fail to meet the deadline.

"It's not necessary. We certainly are required to enforce the law, but it's not necessary to go searching for those types of weapons," Norwich Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro Sr. said.

Putnam Police Chief Rick Hayes said his department is operating with a similar mindset.

"We're not going to be breaking down doors looking for assault rifles. It's going to be business as usual," he said. "I don't foresee any changes in procedure, other than when we come across something, we'll take enforcement action."

Under the new law, failure to register an assault weapon purchased before April 4 is an infraction punishable by a $90 fine for the first offense, but rises to a Class D felony the second time. It's an automatic Class D felony if the gun was obtained after the April date.

Large capacity magazine violations are Class C misdemeanors.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, was one of 10 members of the General Assembly's upper chamber to vote against Senate Bill 1160. The registration deadline did not bother her, but she said the measure as a whole was faulty.

"It had nothing to do with the registration deadline, why I voted against it. I think this has put an unfair burden on hunters and sportsmen who have never done anything wrong and have had weapons their whole lives. There are people who feed their families this way in this section of the state," said Osten, whose 19th Senate District includes Norwich.

Fusaro defended the state's efforts to inform the public about upcoming changes. Full information is included on the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection's website.

"People have had ample opportunity to take a look at the website, and it's all laid out in detail. Citizens have a responsibility to know the law, and in a situation like this, a firearm, no matter what it is, is a big responsibility," he said.

Wilson said his concerns are rooted in the hundreds of messages he's received from members through the league's Facebook page or via phone calls asking questions about details pertaining to the registration guidelines.

"The bottom line is if somebody wakes up and doesn't know they're a felon, you don't have a choice whether you're a law-abiding citizen," he said.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday's deadline, several local groups have taken steps to help gun owners stay in compliance. For example, on Dec. 19, the Quaker Hill Rod & Gun Club in Montville had two notaries at its meeting to help people process applications.

Wilson said he made sure to get his semi-automatic weapon registered — but his organization has taken the state to court over the new regulations. Oral arguments in the case are set for Jan. 30.

"The law is the law until something changes. I don't like it. I despise this law and am appalled by it, but I registered by Bushmaster to comply with it," Wilson said. "But the simple fact is intruding on this matter demonizes the government more than it does the firearm."